You are at the sportsbook and about to place a wager on the NHL hockey game. The line for the football game has just opened and you are tempted to place a “small” bet (5 points) on the game. You do not want to risk being “backed” by other bettors so you look for the “over under” option.
What is “over under” in sports betting jargon? The over under or over/under option in sports betting is a way of laying odds where you can get both sides of a game right. For example, there is a game this Sunday where the underdogs (canucks) are playing against the favourites (leafs). The over/under option allows you to lay money on either team winning the game without risking being “backed” into a corner. If you bet on the underdogs, you will win if they win and if the favourites win, your wager will be refunded (in some cases).
Why Not Just Bet On The Favorite?
Many people think that they can guarantee a profit by betting on the favourite team. However, the favourite team does not always win the game. In fact, sometimes they lose. When this happens, the person/people laying the odds are liable to win or lose money. For this reason, the over/under option is often preferred.
What Is The Most Popular Option?
In the previously mentioned example, the over/under option would be the preferred choice considering that you have zeroed in on an underdogs/favourites matchup. In general, it is advised to avoid backing a winner since most sportsbooks will not be able to give you your money back. Oder (parlays) and spreads are also common in sports betting, and they give you a way of laying odds on multiple teams or players in a single game. For example, you can lay odds on (New York Yankees vs) (Boston Red Sox).
How Does The Over/Under Option Work?
The over/under option is commonly found in association with the hockey game, but it can be applied to any sport where there is an even number of teams involved in the game. The over/under option gives you the ability to lay odds on whether the final score of the game will be above or below the total number of points that are on the line (in the previous example, there are 41 points on the line so if the game ends in a tie, you would earn a 50/50 profit on your wager).
When you place a wager on the over/under option, you are initially given the option to predict whether the final score of the game will be higher or lower than the total number of points on the line. In the case of a tie, you would win or lose the same as if the total number of points had been carried over into the overtime period. If you bet on the underdogs, you will win if they win and if the favourites win, your wager will be refunded (in some cases).
How Does The Underscore ( _ ) Symbol Work In Sports Betting?
The underscore (_) symbol is used in place of a name when there is more than one person with the same last name in sports betting. For example, you might see William Hill, James Hill, or even Joe Hill alligned together on a bet slip because they are all associated with the same sportsbook. The _ symbol is often used in conjunction with the over/under option or in place of a team name when there are several teams with the same last name in a particular sport. For example, you might see the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Mets listed as the Underscore team in a World Series of Poker tournament because they are all associated with the same sportsbook. Another use for the underscore is when there are two or more teams with the same last name in the same sport but the teams participate in different divisions or championships within the sport. For example, the Dallas Cowboys play in the NFL and the Dallas Mavericks play in the NBA. In the event of a trade or a draft, you will often see the names of the players combined with the _ symbol to indicate that they are all under contract with the same team (i.e. the Dallas Cowboys).
How Do I Place A Wager On The Over/Under Option?
All you need to do to place a wager on the over/under option is locate the team or teams you want to bet on, along with the number of points you are willing to risk. The next step is to choose whether you want to wager on whether the total number of points will be higher or lower than the number of points that are on the line. Once you have made this selection, simply click on the place bet button to bring up the sportsbook menu and you are ready to enter the wager. If you had selected a winner, your winnings will be tallied and an email will be sent to the address you specify if you want to be notified of any winnings (in most cases, you do not need to do this). If you had selected the underdogs, your wager will be refunded if they win.